Fluvial/Pond Environments, Features, and Identification. Copyright Carmen Krapf 2002

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1 Fluvial/Pond Environments, Features, and Identification Copyright Carmen Krapf 2002 USACE sediment records workshop Aug 2010

2 Time Scales of Fluvial Sedimentary Records [extending the instrumented time period..] Individual flood event Annual floods and seasons Decadal changes, human alterations, dams and such Range in variability Historical post-euro American settlement, climate Pre-European settlement, Native American Holocene climate Glacio-fluvial ,000 10,000 Years 100,000

3 Modern geomorphic and watershed settings gives clues to where we expect to find deposition and sedimentary records Base level very important

4 Erosion Transfer Deposition Upland Upland valley Floodplain valley Large River Longitudinal Profiles Streamflow Magnitude Distance downstream/drainage area From Lane (1955), Schumm (1977), Bull (1991), Church (2002), Gregory (2006) Stream power

5 Texture of channel bed deposits and longitudinal profile From Perry and Taylor, 2007, Environmental Sedimentology, Chapter 2, Mountain environments by Jeff Warburton

6 Erosion, transport, and sedimentation From Perry and Taylor, 2007 Environmental Sedimentology

7 Channel planform changes From Perry and Taylor, 2007, Environmental Sedimentology, Chapter 3, Fluvial environments, by Karen-Hudson Edwards

8 Alluvial vs. Parent Material Alluvial formed by flowing water and deposited during recent times Rivers are called alluvial if the modern channel is surrounded (sides and bottom) by sediment that was deposited by modern channel processes (usually assumed to be the Holocene and Anthropocene ) Not all rivers are alluvial Important to know the difference between alluvial deposits and other types of deposition, including glacio-fluvial, glacio-lacustrine, and outwash

9 Alluvial deposits along a river Modern point bar deposit along the Bad River, WI Historical overbank vertical accretion deposits along the Bad River, WI

10 Parent materials along a river Glacio-fluvial sand and shoreline deposits along the Bad River, WI (G Glacio-lacustrine clay along the Bad River, WI (Marquette re-advance)

11 Where do we expect sedimentation or erosion? From Perry and Taylor, 2007, Environmental Sedimentology, Chapter 2, Mountain environments by Jeff Warburton

12 Geomorphic process and related deposits From Perry and Taylor, 2007, Environmental Sedimentology

13 Dominance of sediment transfer processes From Lane (1955), Schumm (1977), Bull (1991), Church (2002), Gregory (2006)

14 Gravity flows vs. fluvial flows From Perry and Taylor, 2007, Environmental Sedimentology, Chapter 2, Mountain environments by Jeff Warburton

Colluvial boulder berm poorly sorted, angular, coarse fragments Copyright Evan

15 Colluvium, slide, rockfall a loose jumbled collection of unsorted rock and soil that collects at the foot of a steep slope Copyright Harriet Orr 2002 Colluvial boulder berm poorly sorted, angular, coarse fragments Copyright Evan Hart 2002 Old colluvial terrace exposed by stream erosion, Great Smoky Mountains, TN.

Debris (Sediment Gravity) Flows Moving loose mass of mud, sand, rock, soil, water, and air Moves under influence of gravity Poorly sorted mix of particle

16 Debris (Sediment Gravity) Flows Moving loose mass of mud, sand, rock, soil, water, and air Moves under influence of gravity Poorly sorted mix of particle sizes that move independently within the flow 50% sand sized particles and larger Travel at <1 ft/yr to 100 mi/hr

17 Debris (Sediment Gravity) Flows Bridge, 2003

Mudflows Less coarse and more cohesive than a debris flow Large boulders are transported by matrix strength Lahar is a type of mudflow or debris flow that originates from volcano slopes Mudflows

18 Mudflows Less coarse and more cohesive than a debris flow Large boulders are transported by matrix strength Lahar is a type of mudflow or debris flow that originates from volcano slopes Mudflows grade into hyperconcentrated streamflow where boulders are no longer able to be carried on top by matrix strength Photo by AlexeyKZ Mud Volcano, Sychliar, Azerbaijan

19 Water flows and sediment Suspended vs. moved along the bed Vertical vs. lateral accretion Channel vs. overbank For particles in suspension: Advection: passive transport of particles by the moving fluid Diffusion: molecular agitation and small scale turbulent motions that move the particle randomly with respect to the overall motion of the fluid Settling: vertical falling of particles through fluid under the action of gravity From Perry and Taylor, 2007, Environmental Sedimentology

20 Floodplain environments and sedimentary features Hudson-Edwards, 2007 (Brown, 1997)

21 Typical fining upwards floodplain sequence with gravel/cobble at base From Perry and Taylor, 2007, Environmental Sedimentology, Chapter 3, Fluvial environments by Karen-Hudson Edwards

22 Channel bed deposits imbricated boulders Copyright Richard Kesel 2002 traditional hydraulics Flow direction New age energy vortex in Oak Creek canyon, Sedona, AZ

23 Repeating channel geomorphic units Fryirs and Brierley, 2013 Geomorphic analysis of fluvial systems

24 Lower stage plane beds bedload sheets Bridge, 2003

25 Water flows, bedforms, and sedimentary structures From Perry and Taylor, 2007, Environmental Sedimentology

26 Channel Bedforms and Structures Features of transverse bedforms dunes and ripples Hudson-Edwards, 2007

27 Channel Bedforms and Structures Features of dunes and ripples Simons et al., 1965

28 Dunes height and length a function of water depth Bridge, 2003

29 Chutes and pools, anti-dunes, and plane beds Bridge, 2003

30 Turbulent flow over ripples and dunes Bridge, 2003

31 Cross stratification example Harms and Fahnestock, 1965

32 Point bar formation lateral accretion Secondary flow around bends in meandering channels Lateral accretion as channel migrates Stacked sequences of gravel, sand, and silt Sequences angled toward direction of lateral progression

33 Sand stratification in a bar Harms and Fahnestock, 1965

34 Point bar deposits in sandy channels

35 Point bar deposits in cores photo by J. Pyatskowit Lateral accretion point bar deposit, Wolf River, WI

36 Typical flood sequences Bridge, 2003

37 Interpretation of paleo bankfull channels Bridge, 2003

38 Buried channel deposit in cohesive overbank vertical accretion Copyright Pauline Couper 2002

39 Flood plains zooming in Bridge, 2003

deposition, especially in active channel area, erosion,

40 Floodplain building Powder River, MT (Moody et al. 1999) Mainly vertical accretion Not always constant deposition, especially in active channel area, erosion, ice Spatial extent variable, especially in forested floodplains

41 Flood deposits 2 July 1978, 1 mi south of Readstown Kickapoo Floodplain Scour and Deposition Produced by July 1-2, 1978 Flood (near Steuben, WI) 16,500 cfs, 100-yr Jim Knox photos

42 Jim Knox photos Section 25 T3N R2W, Little Platte River Impact of 1 June 2000 Flood Date of photos: 12 June 2000

43 Historical Change in Flood Power, L. Platte River Tributary, SW Wisconsin post-1820 agricultural sedimentation Late Holocene channel sediment boulders transported by August 2, 1972 flood pre-agricultural surface soil Jim Knox photos

44 Fine sediment (clay and silt deposited on the floodplain of the River Teme (tributary to the River Severn). These deposits were about 1 cm thick and located about 100 m from the channel. Tube is used to measure sedimentation. Copyright Philip Owens 2002

45 Thick sandy overbank deposits near channel bank, River Ousenear, York. Deposits were about 20 cm thick. Copyright Philip Owens 2002

46 Woody debris and vegetation become part of the sediment record in overbank areas. Preservation is dependent on the oxidation state of the deposit. If above the water table and in sandy deposits, the woody material may decompose in decades. Copyright Johannes Steiger 2002

47 Levees and crevasse splays

48 Levees and crevasse splays

vertical accretion deposits Planar beds but may also have cross strata from

49 Levees and crevasse splays Holmen dam and millpond Pre-settlement (1860) surface 5.6 ft Halfway Creek crevasse splay 1938 Thick sandy deposits over fine-grained vertical accretion deposits Planar beds but may also have cross strata from ripples/dunes across the surface Adjacent to active channel Erosion/scour from dam failure Levee breaks

50 Deltas and Alluvial Fans Morphological classification of deltas based on the influence of river, tidal, and wave activity From Perry and Taylor, 2007, Environmental Sedimentology, Chapter 7, Delta environments by Peter French

51 Three types of deltas near Ashland, WI, Lake Superior Seiche-dominated Wave-dominated Fish Creek Fluvial-dominated Bad River

52 Delta anatomy (Hakanson and Jansson, 2002)

53 Delta anatomy From Perry and Taylor, 2007, Environmental Sedimentology, Chapter 7, Delta environments by Peter French

54 Sediment-rich delta Copyright Matthias Jakob 2002

55 Deltaic environments of the Mississippi River

56 Lacustrine sediment (Cohen, 2003, p. 187) Hi water content Mix of mineral and organic particles Varves represent seasonality of particle sources repeated sequencing Laminae = < 1 cm Bed = < 1 cm

confusing typically used for organicrich silts and clays Hakanson and

57 Lacustrine gyttja eutrophic/mesotrophic lake High organic content High water content When exposed to exposed to air can shrink considerably Term gyttja confusing typically used for organicrich silts and clays Hakanson and Jansson, 2002 good reference Lac Courte Oreilles, Hayward, WI Paul Garrison (WDNR) photos

58 Copyright Martin Doyle 2002 Impoundment Deposits

59 Erosion, transport, and sedimentation (Hakanson and Jansson, 2002)

60 Impounded sediment, Neopit Millpond, Menominee Reservation, WI Impounded sediment Peat/histosol Impounded sediment Predam surface Organic-rich silt/clay with very high water content over pre-dam peat (photo by Barb Lensch, NRCS) ~25% organic carbon

61 Balsam Row Impoundment, Wolf River, WI Fitzpatrick, 2005

62 Riparian wetland

63 Riparian wetland and wetland channel Core 13 Core 16 Fort McCoy Stillwell Cr at 16 th Ct cores 2008 Core 14

64 Beaver dams low sediment supply North Shore Lake Superior, MN

65 Beaver pond deposits fine-grained, low sedimentation rate, varying densities from wetting and drying Channel inlet Muddy delta Soil probe Grand Portage Creek, MN North Shore Lake Superior

66 Beaver dams high sediment supply Cranberry River, Wisconsin

67 Beaver dams high sediment supply Large dumps of sand vertical accretion over wetland organic soils Clumps of brushy material Bark River, WI South Shore Lake Superior Photo from Dennis Pratt

68 Alluvial fans Copyright Ron Dorn 2002

69 Typical Valley Types in the Upper Great Lakes Region

70 Tunnel valleys

Large, Long, U-shaped valley originally cut under the glacial ice near the

71 Stop 1 Finger Lakes area, NY, source NASA Stop 2 Boardman River valley influenced by glacial-fluvial and glacio-lacustrine activity Tunnel Valley: Large, Long, U-shaped valley originally cut under the glacial ice near the margin of continental ice sheets. Form by subglacial erosion from large volumes of meltwater

72 Terrace development Charlton, 2008

73 Terrace development Powder River examples (Leopold and Miller, 1954)

74 Leopold and Miller 1954 Terraces and valley fills of eastern Wyoming

75 Clear Creek cross section Leopold s basis for three terraces in western rivers (Leopold and Miller, 1954)

76 Criteria for correlating terraces Three terraces Kaycee, Moorcroft, Lightning Terrace morphology Continuity Height Physiographic relation to other terraces Stratigraphy of underlying fills Relation to buried soils, unconformities, fossil zones, and other markers (maybe volcanic ash in other areas) May be underlain by different units, but similar surface age, soil development Leopold s basis for three terraces in western rivers (Leopold and Miller, 1954)

77 Other interpretive features Continuity of stream process (all cutting or filling) longitudinal extent, cause? Paired heights on either side of valley less lateral migration, quick downcutting Progressive downcutting no pairing, irregular heights more common Slope wash profiles give indication of minimum stream elevation Leopold and Miller, 1954

78 Upland Terrace Well-developed soil North Fish Creek Upper main stem Valley cross section Location Terrace Terrace Poorly-developed soil Modern channel Terrace Terrace Pre-1946 channel Water level DISTANCE ACROSS VALLEY (METERS) EXPLANATION Sand Gravel Soil development

79 Fluvial terrace look a-likes Slumps Glacial lake shorelines Grand Portage Creek, MN

80 Terrace deposits Glacial Lake Algoma beach deposits over Glacial Lake Nippissing lacustrine deposits Pigeon River, MN Glacio-lacustrine diamicton Grand Portage Creek, MN

81 Accelerated floodplain deposition Reconstruct long-term sediment loadings based on overbank sedimentation rates Combines channel position changes, radiometric dating, identification of buried soils photo by Bob Hansis

82 Kickapoo River (Happ, 1940) Sand Creek, Kickapoo River Watershed (Happ, 1940) Mill Creek, 10 mi^2, Platte River Watershed Halfway Creek, 2005 Jim Knox photos x c. A.D c yr BP Little Platte River, 150 mi^2

83 Knox, 2001

84 Tracking paleochannels Driftless Area, SW WI

85 Humans as geomorphic agents Fur Trade Village and fields Grand Portage National Monument, MN 1700s to 1920s Copyright Robert Pavlowsky 2002 Mine tailings, , Blue River, Wisconsin

86 Hydraulic mining sediment High quartz content Spheroidal shaped pebbles Sand lenses No cementation Some imbrication Some cross bedding Thick deposition Copyright Allan James 2002 Copyright Allan James 2002

87 Stage I. Sinuous, Premodified h<h c h c = critical bank height = direction of bank or Channelization, h Channel Evolution, and Floodplain Deposition bed movement Stage I. Sinuous, Premodified h<h c h Stage II. Constructed Stage III. Degradation h<h c h c = critical bank height h<h c floodplain h = direction of bank or bed movement h Stage IV. Degradation and Widening h>h c terrace h Stage IV. Degradation and Stage II. Constructed Stage III. V. Degradation Aggradation and Widening Widening Stage VI. Quasi Equilibrium h<h c h c = critical bank height h<h h>h c c h>h c h<h c floodplain = direction of bank or terrace terrace terrace bed movement bank h h h h bankfull h slumped material aggraded material aggraded material Stage IV. Degradation and slumped material tage III. Degradation Widening <h c h>h c Stages I, II Stage V. Aggradation and Widening Stage VI. Quasi Equilibrium primary h>h c terrace h<h c knickpoint Stage III terrace terrace Stage IV h t o p b a bank n Stage V h precursor plunge k h h knickpoint pool bankfull d i r e Stage VI c t i o n o f f l o w slumped material slumped secondary material knickpoint aggraded material oversteepened reach aggraded aggradation material zone aggraded material ning Stage VI. Quasi Equilibrium h<h c Stages I, II terrace primary knickpoint h Slide: Andrew Simon bank Stage bankfull III Stage IV slumped material

Log Drives http://books.google.com/books?

88 Log Drives 6MC&pg=PA89&lpg=PA89&dq=boardman+rive r+historical+log+drives&source=bl&ots=xih7b RmbPi&sig=6bNj5xIJzHmn0QTKpAkQv0D2ASM &hl=en&ei=ym1ctmvqgohybtobnnqc&sa=x& oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0c CgQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q&f=false

89 9/MIller%20splash%20dam%20ponding%20area%20Lu ckiamute%20river.pdf Splash dams a common occurrence on streams used for log drives

90 Questions? Boardman River, Keystone Impoundment, Stop 1

Diagnostic Geomorphic Methods for Understanding Future Behavior of Lake Superior Streams What Have We Learned in Two Decades?

Diagnostic Geomorphic Methods for Understanding Future Behavior of Lake Superior Streams What Have We Learned in Two Decades? Faith Fitzpatrick USGS WI Water Science Center, Middleton, WI fafitzpa@usgs.gov